Warrior
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Justin Trollinger, college buddy, wants us to do Hackers. that, or I want to do Citizen X about Andrei Chikatilo.
Warrior
Directed by: Gavin O'Connor
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo and kevin Dunn
Released September 9, 2011
Budget: $25M ($29.4M in 2021)
Box Office: $13.7M Domestic ($16.1M 2021), $9.6M Internationally ($11.3M today), Total: $23.3M ($27.4M in 2021)
Ratings: IMDb 8.2/10 Rotten Tomates 83%
Metacritic 71% Google Users 89%
While critically successful, it didn't do well in the box office. Nick Nolte received an academy award nomination for best supporting actor, but didn't win. He was also nominated for a SAG, Critics Choice, and a Satellite Award (which is the International Press Corps award), and didn't win any of them. Lost most of them to Christopher Plummer, who was in the movie, "Beginners." The movie was also nominated for MTV movie award for best fight, which it also didn't win.
Plot:
Film opens with sights of blue collar, industrial town. Nick Noltes Paddy Conlon is listening to Moby Dick on tape in his car. He parks and finds his son, Tom Hardys Tommy, sitting on his steps. They exchange some words, and it's obviously been a while since the two have seen each other, Tommy offers a bottle of Jameson, and Paddy explains he doesn't drink anymore. Tommy looks at old photos, and tries to convince Paddy to have a drink, which he refuses. He keeps looking at photos and jabbing about how Paddy used to be. Paddy recounts a PI following Tommy and his mom leaving, that she died of cancer, and Tommy was in the military. Tommy adds in details about how his mom died. Paddy apologizes, which Tommy sarcastically thanks, before saying, "I think I liked you more as a drunk" and passes out. We switch to a much happier child's birthday party. Joel Edgertons' Brendan Conlon getting his face painted, kids opening presents, and he talks with his wife as she's going to work, and he's working out. It cuts back to Tommy going into a gym, while a worker there is watching a show about the SPARTA competition, and he signs up for a membership. Brendan is shown to be a physics teacher, teaching Newtons 3 laws. Back at the gym, tommy works a bag. He volunteers to fight a guy in the ring, and beats the shit out him quickly, to everyones surprise. Brendan is in a bank, and he's upside down on a mortgage, and that his daughter has a heart condition. He's told he has 90 days to get out of his house and that bankruptcy is an option or foreclosure.
S:
-Having never seen this film, I'm calling the foreshadowing of Paddy listening to Moby Dick and specifically the passage of being on the look out for a white whale.
-I feel Tom Hardy always plays these kind of brooding, underdog that no one expects to do well roles, even in Bane from batman.
-Fight scene is brutal, but realistic
Paddy is watching old film of Tommy wresting, it mentions he's won 6 junior olympic titles, and wins a 7th. Colton from the gym shows up to the house and wants to find and know more about him. Which Paddy tells him he needs to ask Tommy. Brendan is shown to be driving and lies to his wife about going to an open mic, but is going to a fight. After a little back and forth, Brendan ends up winning. He's shown coming home with the sun coming up, and admitting to his wife he hasn't been bouncing, but fighting. They argue, but resolve it quickly, because Brendan wants to keep the house. Next, Tommy meets Paddy at a diner, he tells Paddy hes going to start fighting, and about the Sparta competition, and he wants Paddy to be his trainer, but makes it VERY clear he doesn't want ANYTHING else to do with him. So Paddy tells him to give up his pills, that he has to change his diet, and he's bunking up at the house, which Tommy agrees to. Brendan back in school, the students are talking about someone seeing him fighting, and ask him about it. Before he can answer, he's called to the principals office. He explains that he needs the money. The Principal says the system wont tolerate someone fighting at titty club parking lots, and that he's going to tell the superintendent it wont happen again. Brendan is then shown working on one of the kids toys, and his wife, Tess, tells him that the school is going to review his case at the end of the semester, but until then, he's suspended without pay. The principal gave them an attorney's number, saying it's unprecedented, and he'll be back. He explains there are pop fights all over, he can make more in 2 hours fighting than a month bouncing.
S:
-Jennifer Morrison is HOT. and there's no way that argument ends like that, that fast.
-Why is it any of the fucking schools business what he does outside of business hours?
Paddy is shown going up the stairs singing an annoying song, bringing Tommy coffee. Paddy asks him about what happened when he left, to fill out a chart of his wresting, which he doesn't do and tells him he can get his own coffee. In Iraq, there are some army guys watching a youtube clip of Tommy fighting, one of them recognizes Tommy and he takes off running. He goes into the barracks asking to see "the tape." They hit play and its some sort of fire fight at night, the soldier pauses the tape and says 'Thats him.' Brendan walks into a gym, and a coach sees him, and comes to greet him. They catch up, and he apologizes for not calling. Brendan asks Frank to train him. Frank tells him he doesn't listen. Frank asks if Tess knows, which he says she does. Frank agrees and Brendan goes to get his training gear. Brendan gets home and Paddy was waiting on him, he doesn't seem happy to see him. He's been a 1000 days sober; but Brendan rejects his apology. They argue back and forth, and it seems there's an incident that occurred specifically. Paddy tells him Tommy is in Pittsburg, which changes Brendans attitude. Paddy tells him they're training together, which Brendan is surprised by. He asked if Tommy wanted to see him, which he says he doesn't talk much. Brendan fells rejected, and they continue to spar, and Paddy asks him to forgive him, which he does, but he doesn't trust him. Brendan walks in and shuts the door on Paddy. Tommy walks into the gym, and Colton tells him hes in the SPARTA contest.
S:
-Joel Edgerton was born in 1974, and in 2011 was 37 years old. That is NOT the age to get back into literal fighting shape.
-Who has been in a REAL fight, punched in the face fight. Tucker doesn't count bc he chose to be a cop.
-Frank Grillo changed a WHOLE bunch between 2011 and 2014 for Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Bulked up.
Flashing to El Paso, Texas, the phone rings and a woman answers, Tommy talks to her, tells her he's trying to help like he promised to Manny, and we see a photo of Tommy and Manny together in military fatigues. It fads to Tommy training, then a montage of Tommy and Brendan training, while sports casters talk about the Sparta tournament. They also talk about Kolba coming to America for the first time, an unbeatable Russian. Brendan is still fighting, Franks leading contender is shown to be hurt. Brendan asks Frank to let him go to the tournament. Which he eventually agrees to. He calls Brendan the next day and that he's going to the tournament, which Tess is angry about because he changed the deal they made. We're at the Sparta event and the guy who started the whole thing says he wants to know who the toughest guy on the planet is. Tommy sees Brendan, then Brendan sees Tommy... neither approaches the other. Tommy leaves with Paddy following him. In Paddys hotel room, he continues to listen to Moby Dick, while watching a report on tv about Tommy rescuing some military guys, who thanks him for saving his life. Tommy leaves to take a walk, as the tv shows the video seen earlier. Brendan meets Tommy on a beach; Brendan tries to connect, but Tommy is very cut off. Brendan shows him his family, and Tommy says he doesn't know them, that he doesn't know Brendan. Tommy has written him off since Brendan stayed with his dad. Brendan wants to reconnect, and Tommy doesn't want to. They argue back and forth, Tommy tells him he's full of shit and it ends. The students ask the principal to use the auditorium to watch the Sparta match, which he won't allow. The tournament starts, and Tommy will start. The people in his gym are cheering him on. Brendan continues to train, Frank watches. Tommys first fight starts, and knocks him out VERY quickly. Tommy very quickly exits. Brendan is next, and he seems nervous. Frank assures him. The commentators aren't fans, and Paddy wishes him luck as he walks out to Beethoven, a theme with Franks training. The fight starts, Paddy and the principal are watching. He gets a choke on Brendan, but it gets released due to the end of the round. Frank coaches him up, and they go for round 2. Tess nervously doesn't watch. They go back and forth, Brendan gets him in a arm lock and he taps. Everyone celebrates. Tess celebrates the "I Won" text.
S:
-Awesome that Frank drives an old Bronco... Sweet
-The part of Moby Dick he's listening to Ahab getting ready to face Moby Dick
-I've never been in that situation, but I feel that Tommy was a bit of a dick to Brendan; he chose to stay and make a life with a woman he loved. It was tommy's choice to not call or reach out... It seems he would've reciprocated, or been there. Tommy seems butthurt Brendan didn't come.
-J.J. Riley, Sparta founder, is played by the Director, Gavin O'Connor
-Guy suplexes Brendan, don't see that in mma.
As they recoup, they watch Koba destroy a guy with a powerbomb, and beat him. Brendan goes again, Paddy wishes him luck again. Brendan sets another arm bar, and taps his second fight. Tommy comes out next. He beats the guy senseless, and just walks out again. Tommy is playing slots and Paddy joins him. he tells him hes proud of him for helping the soldier. Tommy tells him he was deserting his unit when he found them. That's way he goes by his mothers maiden name. Paddy tries to get out of Tommy what happened, but Tommy doesn't bite, turns it back on Paddy. He tells him he has no use for him. He throws a cup of coins at him and Paddy leaves. The next day, there are empty bottles around the room, Paddy is yelling about stopping the ship when Tommy opens the door, Paddy with a Jameson bottle in his hand. Tommy comforts him, probably finally feeling sorry for him, that he drove him to it. Paddy tells him he always loved him and Brendan. Back at the arena, the crowd chants Tommys name, and Paddy isn't with him. The marines sing the Marine Corps Hymn, and Tommy is fighting the same guy he beat the first time at the gym, Mad Dog. He throws one big punch, Tommy ducks and takes him to the ground and pounds him. The highschool students have gotten a drive in theatre to show the fights, and the principal joins them. Brendan enters the ring, and Tess there to watch. He's fighting Koba. Koba starts working him, and they trade blows. Round 2. Koba is throwing him around and pounding him. Round ends. Frank coaches him, reminds him why he's fighting, for his home. Round 3, they start trading blows, and he suplexed Koba. Back and forth. He gets Koba in a knee bar and after a few tense seconds, Koba taps. The place erupts with celebration. Fade to black.
S:
-Kurt Angle playing Koba and doing the power bomb, come on.
-The "symbology" of Paddy telling Ahab to stop the ship, that he's on a collision course with Moby Dick, like Tommy and Brendan.
-Kurt Angle isn't as big as he was in his WCW/WWF days.
-All the throwing is just not realistic...
CNN breaks the news of who Tommy really is. An interview with the woman he spoke with earlier gave an interview about what happened. Tommy is under guard and will be taken into custody AFTER the final fight. He said that if he wins, all the money will go to the widow. It's revealed Tommy and Brendan are brothers. Brendan says he's going to fight Tommy. Brendan arrives at the ring, to a very somber soundtrack. Tommy arrives with the same. They eye each other in the ring... Brendan asks where Paddy is before the fight starts. Tommy goes in hard, and Brendan is obviously more technical. Tommy pounds on him and round ends. Again, Frank coaches and they're back at it. Round 2. They trade blows and throws, end of round. Round 3. Tommy seems to just beat and beat on Brendan, when he catches him in an arm lock, and Tommy doesn't tap. Sounds like he breaks his arm or shoulder... but then they break it up for the end of round 3 and no one calls it. Frank doesn't let Brendan tell the ref, tells him to get the other one. Round 4. Brendan doesn't want to fight him, Tommy fights with one arm as Paddy arrives. Brendan tries to talk him out of it, and then starts hitting him. End of round. Brendan sees Paddy with a knowing glance. Tommy cries in his corner. Start of round 5.. .they dance around, Brendan kicks him down, gets him in a choke, tells him to tap, and that he loves him... and Tommy taps. Everyone celebrates again. Brendan tells Tommy he loves him again and helps him up, hugging him. Paddy watches, with a single tear rolling down his cheek. The brothers walk out together with a smile from Paddy. Fade to black.
S:
-Its obvious this is what the whole movie was building to. With the Moby Dick allegory, who is Ahab, and who's Moby Dick... bc Ahab dies...
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